Earlier this week, Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said he doesn't think Terrelle Pryor "is ready to be the backup quarterback yet... ." That's OK, because Pryor won't be the backup quarterback on Sunday against the Chargers; he will be the starting quarterback. Pryor and Matt Leinart split first-team reps during the practice week, and Allen announced Friday that Pryor will get his first NFL start this weekend.

Fantasy Analysis:

At first blush, it seems like an odd decision because Pryor indeed doesn't seem ready to be a passer at this level. But everybody knows what Matt Leinart is. He certainly didn't change any opinions on him with his weak performance in Week 16, and he's a free agent after this season who is unlikely to be back in Oakland. Conversely, the Raiders have Pryor under contract through 2014, and they need to see what they have in the 23-year-old project. At the very least, his athleticism makes him intriguing to watch, but you shouldn't be starting him or any Raiders receivers in Week 17. The Chargers defense remains a pretty solid play, although Pryor is tough to track down.

I think this is a good decision on the Raiders part. They should have done it a week or two sooner. As its been stated here, chances are Matt Leiner will not return next year and we could have used a few weeks to let him gain some experience. We know Carson Palmer is the "now" QB and these last 4 weeks would have made no difference to this foregone season.